The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-20
THE JOINT CONVENTION.

1t is putting it mildly to say that the Re-
publicans of the State of Indiana will be amazed
when they read the proceedings had in the
General Assembly yesterday. Every step the
Republican members Of either House had so
far taken, every step taken by any one in the
slightest degree officially representing the Re-
publican party, had been so clearly within the
limits of the Constitution and laws that not
only did the Republican attitude command
the unanimous Endorsement of the party, but,
as WELL the support of large section even OF
the Democratic rank and file who had no SYM
pathy with the revolutionary purposes and
methods of their representative men and as
sumed leaders. This was so manifestly the
fact that no argument is needed to support
the assertion. Every recognized channel
through which public sentiment expresses
itself has been used to show that the people
discountenanced the Democratic gang and
heartily supported the Republicans. 1t will,
therefore, be an amazement not only to Re
publicans, but TO those other citizens as
well, that formal paper was pre-
pared and agreed to by the Republican
Senators and Representatives, which con-
cedes that the Republican position must be
Compromised" away, at least in part. in the
interests of harmony" and asserts that the
proposition and concession came from eau
Gus of the law-abiding Republicans to a eau
Gus of the law breaking and revolutionary
Democrats. Our report of the proceedings Of
the joint convention gives the agreement in
| full, and that we have properly characterized
it will be apparent when its text is read. We
dc not feel authorized to say that Mr.. Green
Smith actually wrote it or dictated it, but In
spirit and language it could fairly be at
tributed to him.
Need the situation of affairs be rehearseda
The Democratic party is in revolution against
the laws and the Constitution. Beginning
with the infamous DISTINGUISHING gerry
mander every step it has taken has been in
defiance Of right, of justice, of law, and of
common decency. It's pathway is sire IN
with broken laws, violated pledges, bad fat a.
and high crimes and msdeueanora
On the other hand, the Republicans have
implicitly obeyed the Constitution and laws;
have followed in the orderly paths Of honest
citizenship to carry into effect the verdict of
the people given in November last Not q
movement has been made outside the strictest
limits of the law, and mono was proposed.
Whether or not Lieutenant governor Robert
son would disobey the writ issued by the
county court was for him, personally, to de-
termine that was a personal matter He
and the Republicans might we'll hold, as a
question of law, that no writ could issue to
compel a legislative body to do anything.
But, as matter of fact, we violate no con
fidence in saying that the Republicans did not
propose that Colonel Robertson should ever
seem to invite a conflict with the court
Speaker Sayre was to preside, as ht
undoubtedly has the right to do. there being
10 courtesy that required the observance Of
J a mere parliamentary usage" permitting thu
presidency in joint convention of such a mar
as Green Smith had shown himself to be il
/ his treatment of Republicans in the Senate
] The joint convention was called in regula
0 order, and would have been held in regula
order without any extralegal arrangement
or compromise" by anybody. If the Demo
Gratis should have concluded to come into tn
regular and legal convention, they would hav
been courteously received and properly treat
ed; had they concluded to hold little con
> .vention of their own, they should have bee
! permitted to do So without let or hindrance
In any and every view of the case, the "agret
ment,' or Compromise" is both ill-advise
and unwarranted No Compromise of til
u Republican position was required, and esp,
= cially none that seems to recognize the right
( Green Smith to preside in a joint conventio
and to order the proceedings in a hall col
troled by the Republican House, thereby COZ
doning his fragrant offenses not onl
, against parliamentary usage and cou
tesy but against common decenc,
More than that, this compromise
recognizes the fagitious outrage Of the I'll
seating Of Senator Mcdonald and the sti
moro illegal and arbitrary seating Of the ma
Brannaman. Still worse, the compromise" pr
vides for useless and absurd protests again
certain votes for United States Senator, as so
of cheap balm, under which yesterday procee
ings degeuerated into second-class minstr
!, entertainment instead Of being the dignife
action of a General Assembly Of great Stat
Outside. however, of any possible influence
hcx IL